August 2017—Great Escape

Editor's Note — August 2017

On the Cover: Jordon & Elisha Long

Photo by Kelli Avila

These long, hot, lazy days of summer are in full swing – we hope you’re enjoying this extra-heavy dose of Vitamin D!

One of summer’s most delicious qualities is the abundance of freshly grown fruits and vegetables. You’ll find plenty of these treats at the Thursday Night Market Place in downtown Hanford, which has become a weekly destination for folks in search of farmers market goodies, informational booths, entertainment and more.

Quench your thirst with a pint at BarrelHouse Brewing Co., which is in the midst of opening its third location, this one in Visalia. The owners hope their taphouse will help turn an underused area of Main Street into something vibrant.

We’ve got more than our share of local-folks-made-good in the South Valley, and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr tops that list. He spent some time with us to share a bit about the three driving forces in his life – football, family
and faith.

Then meet Eddie Renteria, an athlete whose life path was diverted by an illness – so he reinvented himself as a fitness instructor who is coaching people toward healthier, stronger, more confident lives.

We’ll also tell you the story of a boy named Jake, a dog named Sam and their friendship that led to the creation of The Barker’s Dozen, a shop that caters to four-legged family members.

Meanwhile, learn more about the Visalia Unified School District’s Linked Learning Academies, where motivation for educational excellence is fueled by exploration and application to a career. Students are getting an edge in pursuit of their goals while collecting real-life work experience.

And just in time for the school bell to ring once more, we’ll introduce you to 9-year-old Zackeria Lovick of Fresno, who is bringing school supplies to children in need through his own school supply drive. This year, he plans to donate a backpack full of supplies to each student at Williams Elementary School, and you can help him out.